DAWN OF A NEW of US-EU relations, not!

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said he hoped meetings between European leaders and President George W Bush marked a new chapter in transatlantic relations.

"I am confident that today marks the beginning of a new phase," he told a press conference after the EU-US summit.

The Spanish prime minister said he had cordial exchanges with Bush, who greeted him in Spanish.

In a brief exchange, Bush asked: "Hola, que tal amigo?" (How are you?)

Zapatero answered in Spanish: "Muy bien, y tu?" (Good, and you)

And that was all; Bush immediately went aheat to greet other people. I don't know what Zapatero was expecting (a spit on the face?), but this doesn't look as a breakthrough to me, no matter how our dear leader wants to spin it.

The Demrealists say:

I watched the clips of the NATO meeting and this appeared to be the extent of the conversation. If Zapatero considers this to be groundbreaking developments in Spanish-Amerian relations, he better take a course on diplomacy. I also saw Zapatero with his "crazy-eyes" creeping in the background circling Bush. Strange.

Later during the press conference, Zapatero remarked "A relation of understanding and cooperation between Europe and the United States is key for maintaining peace and security in the world... And so that those bridges are solid, there needs to be two balanced pillars on each side of the Atlantic."

And after that, Spain's Foreign Minister Moratinos said in Parliament that the relationships between Spain and the US "are privileged".

I told you already that his approach to the truth is tortured.

UPDATE. Via James Taranto, this hilarious letter to the editor on Majorca's Daily Bulletin:

Zapatero said he was anti-Bush, the complete opposite of former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. But ever since his election, Zapatero has spent much of his time shadowing Bush and attempting to shake his hand. On Wednesday, he was waiting in the shadows, and made his move when Bush was talking to Tony Blair. Bush, who I suspect didn't really know who Zapatero was said “hola amigo” and continued talking to Blair. Meanwhile, Zapatero walked off smiling away like a child with a new pair of shoes. The exchange was so brief Spanish newspapers had a nightmare trying to find a photograph of the “great meeting.” To make matters worse a Spanish government spokesperson said that Bush and Zapatero had a “cordial exchange.” (They forget to mention it lasted about two seconds.) Even more laughable was the “meeting” Spanish Foreign Secretary Moratinos had with U.S. Secretary of State Rice. He literally rushed over to her in a passageway and then later claimed he had a summit meeting.

[...] If Zapatero got an invitation to the White House, he would probably frame the invitation card!